BUFFALO – Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly is day-to-day after leaving Wednesday’s 3-2 preseason loss early as a precaution because of a spasm in his back and midsection, coach Dan Bylsma said.

O’Reilly, who was playing his first preseason game following the World Cup of Hockey, didn’t practice this afternoon inside KeyBank Center. He’s out of Friday’s exhibition finale in Ottawa, Bylsma said.

The Sabres, of course, are dealing with a slew of injuries exactly one week before the season opener.

BUFFALO – In his first game in almost nine months Tuesday, slick Sabres winger Tyler Ennis skated aggressively, proving the season-ending concussion he suffered Dec. 30 wasn’t lingering in his mind.

“I like the way he skated,” coach Dan Bylsma said after the Sabres prepared for tonight’s preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “He played with some urgency, he played with some jam. In the third period, he drew the penalty with his skating.

BUFFALO – Six months removed from ankle surgery, fiery Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, as you might expect, is excited to play his first game preseason game tonight.

“I don’t know if the excitement I sense is because it’s a new year and where he’s at physically and being ready to go or playing the Ottawa Senators and (he) doesn’t want (Mike) Hoffman to score tonight,” coach Dan Bylsma said after the Sabres prepared for the preseason home opener inside KeyBank Center.

ROCHESTER – Robin Lehner knew his first rehab appearance for the AHL Americans could be a bit rocky. After all, the goalie hadn’t played since suffering a high ankle sprain opening night, his debut as the Buffalo Sabres’ new starter.

Lehner, 24, looked shaky at times Friday inside the Blue Cross War Memorial. In his first action since Oct. 8, the Swede allowed a goal on the fifth shot he faced and three scores on the first nine shots in the …

TORONTO – Instead of being in Canada’s largest city for an NHL exhibition game tonight, Buffalo Sabres prospect Brendan Guhle figured he’d likely be playing his first junior game this season about 3,000 kilometers away – hey, check the dateline – in Saskatchewan for the Prince Albert Raiders.

But the defenseman, the 51st pick in June, will play his third straight preseason game tonight against the Maple Leafs inside the Air Canada Centre.